IEA-R conference

  

The IEA-Retired Council and the conference planning committee invite you to attend the 18th Annual IEA-Retired Professional Conference on April 11. We have a wonderful birthday party planned for this conference, at which we will be celebrating the 25th birthday of IEA-Retired!  

 

We would like to extend a special invitation to newly- and nearly-retired members to take advantage of this great opportunity to join in the celebration. The conference will again be at the Doubletree Hotel in Oak Brook, offering a great facility, close to outstanding dining and shopping venues.

  

Find all the conference information you need on the IEA web site.

 

IEA-R elections

 

Election timelines   

 

  • January - Notice of elections and nominations were in the December-January official election publication
  • Feb. 11 - Nominations were due
  • Mar. 18 - Ballots mailed (an election will be held only for contested positions)
  • Apr. 22 - Ballots due
  • Apr. 24 - Ballots counted
  • May 1 - Candidates notified of results 

 

The following Council of Retiree positions are to be elected in the Spring, for three-year terms: 

 

  • Chair, retired council
  • Vice-chair, retired council
  • Central section council member
  • At-large council member 

 

Election information can be found on the IEA web page.  

 

Pension tension

State pension lawsuit heads to Illinois Supreme Court Mar. 11.

 

The Illinois Supreme Court will hear arguments on a lawsuit over public pension benefits next week, bringing to a head fundamental disagreements over the rights conferred by Illinois' constitution and whether an emergency justifies overriding the constitution.

If state employees and retirees are successful, they'll see a law which undisputedly reduces the value of their retirement benefits struck down, while a victory for the state could significantly alleviate the underfunding of Illinois' pension liabilities.
 

 

The Illinois Times offers an in-depth look at the upcoming pension case.

 

A federal appeals court has decided not to wrestle with the issue of whether the Illinois constitution prohibits the reduction of health care benefits for retired public-sector employees in Chicago.

 

This, of course, is related to the broader case that the Illinois Supreme Court will hear this month, when they are presented with oral arguments on the constitutionality of the state's landmark pension overhaul.  Read more here.   

Governor declares war on unions

 

Gov. Bruce Rauner signed an executive order to prevent state public employee unions from collecting fair share fees.

 

Although this does not affect IEA yet, it is the first salvo of the governor demonstrating his misunderstanding of fair share fees, saying unions "do not provide an account of how these fees are calculated," and expend the fair share fees "in support of political activity."

 

Courthouse News Services takes an in-depth look.

 

Rauner and state workers at odds over insurance

 

As part of his budget plan, Gov. Rauner proposes an end to state subsidies to the Teachers' Retirement Insurance Program and College Insurance Program. The former provides insurance coverage to retired downstate teachers, while the latter makes insurance coverage available to retired community college workers. 
 

The plan also calls for a $700 million cut in insurance plans for active state workers. The full article outlining the plan can be found here.  

 

Illinois not alone in post-recession budget woes

Illinois is not alone in its fiscal crisis; plenty of other states share a dim financial outlook. Does misery love company? To read about the other states that are suffering the post-recession blues, read on ... 

 

An idea worth considering


 

Region 14 & 62 retiree volunteers bag school supplies
 

Do you remember those students who never had the needed supplies for class? Think back about the kid who ran out of paper and told you that his mom couldn't go to the store until she got paid in two weeks. How about the little girl who said that her dad wouldn't buy her another pair of scissors? Just because we're retired doesn't mean that we've forgotten about all those children in need.

 

Read Helping Students in Need by Janet Kilgus, chair, IEA-R.  

Illinois retirees come together in Florida

A chapter of IEA-R met recently at the Dutch Heritage Restaurant in Sarasota.

 

President Judy Hess called the group of 25 members to order and introduced special guests, including Martha Karlovetz, NEA-R secretary, Janet Kilgus, IEA-R president and Barb Gilhaus, IEA-R council member and organizer of the chapter in 2010.

 

Hess reviewed what was happening in Illinois. Martha talked about the new grant that NEA has to organize NEA-R members who retired from other states but now live - and vote - in Sarasota County.

 

Kilgus presented the program which was a power point program highlighting IEA-R's 25th anniversary.

 

On Feb. 5, Gilhaus met with a group from The Villages and the surrounding area to finalize plans for organizing a chapter in that area. The group put together a constitution and a slate of officers. We will be sending that out this spring for members to vote on and then we will be ready to charter our second chapter in Florida. 

 

Savings from NEA Member Benefits

 

NEA Click & Save

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NEA members enjoy a 20 percent savings every day on flowers, plants, gift baskets, gourmet foods, confections, plush stuffed animals and more!

 

NEA wireless

With NEA wireless you can save 15  percent monthly on AT&T cell phone service for you and your family.

 

NEA magazine service

Take advantage of our NEA magazine discounts on 900+ titles at up to 85 percent off newsstand prices with a low price guarantee.

 

H & R Block

Special discount just for NEA members! Save on a variety of H&R Block online and tax preparation software products.

 

Costco membership

Join Costco and start saving today, plus receive coupons for free products and other savings valued at more than $55.

 

Be sure to check often for unadvertised, limited-time offers, including discount dining certificates, from Restaurant.com.

 

Join the 356,700 NEA members already registered for NEA Click & Save   
Connect with IEA!

IEA Connect is a new and easy way to get all your IEA questions answered in one spot. You can do it by phone, by email or by live chat with someone via the IEA website. 

  • Have you ever wondered how you can access discounts and deals?
  • Or how your dues dollars are spent?
  • Are you trying to find out more information about the new evaluation system or professional development resources?
  • Need to change your membership information?

IEA Connect is here to help. Now, you can reach an IEA Connect specialist 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday.

 

If we don't know the answer, we'll find one for you! Connect with IEA today!
 

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